Curiosity Thrilled the Cat

Kathleen Paulson relocates from Boston to Mayville Heights, Minnesota to oversee the renovation of the town's library. Shortly after her arrival, she takes in two stray cats who display mysterious abilities that seem to defy explanation. When a visiting conductor is found dead after an argument at a music festival fundraiser, Kathleen becomes entangled in the investigation. The cats, Owen and Hercules, assist her amateur sleuthing efforts in ways that challenge her understanding of what's possible. The story combines elements of cozy mystery, small-town dynamics, and magical realism while exploring themes of new beginnings and unexpected connections. Through Kathleen's experiences, the narrative considers how disruption and change can lead to discovery.

Readers describe this as a light, cozy mystery focused on librarian Kathleen's two cats with apparent magical abilities. Readers appreciated: - The realistic small-town Minnesota setting - Believable characters, especially the cats' distinct personalities - Clean content without graphic violence - Integration of library details and book references Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in the first third - Too much focus on routine daily activities - Underdeveloped romance subplot - Some found the magical cats' abilities too subtle Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (11,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (500+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.2/5 (200+ ratings) Several reviewers mentioned struggling to connect with the protagonist initially but enjoying the series more with later books. Multiple readers compared it favorably to Miranda James' Cat in the Stacks series, though noting this series has more supernatural elements. One frequent comment praised the accurate portrayal of cat behavior: "Even without magic, these cats act exactly like real cats."

The Cat Who Could Read Backwards by Lilian Jackson Braun A journalist and his Siamese cat solve murders in a small town where art galleries and eccentric characters create a backdrop for feline-assisted detective work.

Murder Past Due by Miranda James A librarian and his Maine Coon cat discover a pattern of deaths connected to a famous author's return to their Mississippi town.

Six Cats a Slayin' by Miranda James A boarding house owner and her clever cat investigate suspicious deaths during Christmas season while navigating small-town politics and secrets.

The Ghost and Mrs. McClure by Alice Kimberly A bookstore owner partners with the ghost of a private investigator and her cat to solve mysteries involving rare books and local murders.

Paws and Effect by Sofie Ryan A secondhand shop owner and her rescue cat uncover connections between stolen antiques and a string of break-ins in their coastal Maine community.

🐱 Like her main character Kathleen Paulson, author Sofie Kelly is a librarian who moved from Boston to a small midwestern town. 📚 The book introduces two magical cats with special abilities: Owen can turn invisible, and Hercules can walk through solid walls. 🏛️ The fictional town of Mayville Heights, Minnesota, where the story is set, was inspired by real small towns along the Mississippi River. 🎵 The book's title is a play on the famous phrase "curiosity killed the cat," and all subsequent books in the series feature similar cat-themed puns. 🔍 This cozy mystery launched the "Magical Cats Mystery" series, which has gone on to include more than a dozen successful sequels.